ASCRC Writing Suggestions, 4/14/05

To complete the writing requirements at the University of Montana, the following guidelines and requirements apply.

1.      Assuming eligibility, ENEX 101 shall be taken the first semester in attendance at the University or the second depending upon alphabetical sequencing.

2.      Satisfactory completion of ENEX 101 requires a grade of C (2.0) or higher. 

3.      After satisfactory completion of ENEX 101, a writing course from the approved list must be taken, preferably within the next two semesters. 

4.      Writing course syllabi will include an informational link to the site listing current information about the WPA. 

5.      Upon completion of #3, the WPA should be taken no later than 70 credits. 

6.      Upon failing the WPA, students are required to take a writing workshop from the Writing Center

7.      Upon completing writing workshop, students are required to take the next WPA.

 

Recommendations suspended until autumn 2007

§    A registration bloc will be set at 70 credits.

§    Bloc can be removed by registration for WPA at next available offering.   

Registration for the WPA is now through Banner, thus a registration block would be problematic.  The Registrar’s Office will be sending out reminder postcards to students after they have completed 60 credits.  Lists of students needing to take the assessment will be sent to departments at the same time.  

Professors that require competent writers for upper-division course work can make passing the WPA a prerequisite.  This will create an incentive for students to pass the exam.   

 
Additional recommendations considered, postponed for assessment of changes to registration process
.

§    Registration for WPA requires deposit of $50.

§    Upon taking WPA, deposit will be refunded.


Regarding deposit idea, the need to reimburse those who take the test could be eliminated by requiring a check which would be attached to application to take test.  After taking the test (passing or not) check would be returned to the student and check of those who don’t show up would be deposited.


Processing deposits and refunds will be a problem to administer.  The success of the new registration and communication process should be assessed.  If students are still not showing up to take the exam after they have registered then a fine can be put in place.